by Isabel Ovalle
Modelling offers many career opportunities in Qatar, more than one would expect in a conservative Middle Eastern country. With a flourishing fashion industry, there are numerous shows and exhibitions taking place in Doha, especially during the fall and winter seasons.
Nonetheless, models don’t come to Doha expressly for work, and often decide to take their chance on the runway after moving to Qatar with their family.
That is the case with Yezenia Navarro, originally from Mexico, who moved to Qatar almost a year ago for personal reasons and decided to get involved in the fashion business. With a background in acting, and experience in modelling, she opted for fashion.
She investigated online and found out that among the major modelling agencies in Doha were Trinity Talent, Qatar Talents and behip. After sending her portfolio, she began getting calls and offers to work with local designers. Soon enough, she was well-known in the business and now works mainly as a freelancer.
“I have worked with many local designers and noticed that in the past few months the market is opening up. Designers are more open-minded and have more vision and not only traditional ideas, especially the younger generation,” she said.
Navarro relocated to Doha with her husband and three children and found it easy to juggle her career as a model with her family responsibilities and hobbies, which include baking. In the many fashion shows she has worked for in Doha, she has seen the same faces many times, meeting approximately 30 professional models working currently in Qatar. Most of these models live in the country with their families and combine modelling with other jobs or motherhood.
Qatar offers good pay for professionals in this field, but salaries are usually higher in Europe and the United States, and lower in Latin America.
Also from Latin America is Mariana Tomaz, originally from Brazil. She arrived in Doha last December and began working as a model right away. “I was a nutritionist in Brazil, and everyone told me I was so thin I could be a model, so I began contacting agencies,” she added.
She says the number of professional models in Qatar is very small, “maybe only five”. She has worked with different agencies but is now a freelancer. “I’m not fixed with anyone,” she said.
During her one year in the business, she has done many fashion shows, especially in the winter season, given that during the summer there is not much activity. Tomaz also combines her work as a model with other activities.
Junita Hughes, booking manager for models and temporary staffing at Trinity Talent, is one of the founders of the agency. Back in 2006, when the Asian Games took place in Doha, Hughes and two partners (one with 25 years of experience in Qatar) began working on the project that became Trinity Talent, the oldest agency in the sector here.
Hughes explained: “we realised there was need for models, a huge need for them, and it all began in the Asian games.” Now their company provides a wide range of services, including modelling.
The corporate sector is the biggest source of work for these professionals, who work on photo shoots for major companies such as Qatar Airways and ExxonMobil. Another field of work is television advertisements for the same clientele.
Fashion shows provide work as well, but they are not as frequent as corporate modelling assignments. Hughes said there were around five professional female models working exclusively for fashion with Trinity Talent, while around 20 worked in other areas as well. Besides, there are 20 male models.
The activity in this field varies with the season, with February and March being the peak season for “big events” and fashion shows. The hostess department is in demand until May.
Trinity Talent Qatar is a source for models, promoters, makeup artists, hair stylists and photographers. They cover diverse events such as television, live and print casting services, and also do radio and television voiceovers, as well as fashion show and event planning.
On the other hand, Qatar Talents, a modelling agency established in July 2011, provides a wide variety of professional services. The company aims to be “distinguished by providing the highest personalised and qualified services without exceeding your budget but assuring you a successful upcoming event.”
Romina Gatti, managing director of the company, said modelling related to fashion mainly involved local abaya designers. Qatar Talents provides personnel not only for fashion shows, but men and women of different ages for photo shoots as well. Local magazines and motor shows are another source of business for this sector.
During high-profile events like jewellery exhibitions and motor shows, many firms get models from Dubai to showcase their products and designs and man their pavilions.
Lack of events throughout the calendar year is holding back many from making modelling a permanent career option. But that is changing fast, as Doha summers are not the same anymore. Many events and shows are now held throughout summer, especially inside the malls and hotels. Many young and vibrant designers are passing out from prestigious institutes like VCUQatar, and they are eager to showcase their creativity through solo and group shows. This augurs well for those interested in taking up modelling as a career.
The Peninsula
